By Abigail Mbah
Nigeria’s mobile internet subscriber base is increasingly dominated by MTN Nigeria and Airtel, according to the latest figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission. Smaller operators are either losing ground or seeing their numbers freeze due to reporting problems.
NCC data shows T2 Mobile’s active mobile internet subscribers locked at 802,534 across April, May and June 2026. The identical monthly figures stem from the operator’s failure to submit updated reports, the regulator confirmed. An NCC spokesperson attributed the gap to “technical challenges” and noted that published statistics rely on the last reports received from operators.
T2’s actual customer numbers did move. Porting data recorded 73 subscribers switching to T2 while 1,897 moved to other networks, producing a net loss of 1,824 through number portability alone. Telecom analyst Osita Odafi said a completely static figure is highly unusual and points to a reporting or data-submission issue rather than real stability.
Glo’s performance was clearer and more concerning. The operator added subscribers at a 7.8% rate between April and May, then dropped 7.3% in June. The June decline wiped out the previous month’s gains and left Glo with fewer internet subscribers than it held in April.
MTN and Airtel continued to expand. MTN’s active mobile internet base grew 0.68% between April and June. Airtel posted stronger growth of 2.81% over the same three months, including a 1.47 million-subscriber jump in June alone.
The concentration carries practical risks for users. When smaller players lose share or become hard to track, consumers face fewer realistic alternatives if prices rise or service quality falls. That reduces pressure on the larger operators to keep improving affordability, coverage and customer experience.
Broader network problems are also at play. The NCC recorded more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts across Nigeria in the first six months of 2026, driven by road projects, vandalism and access difficulties. These disruptions hit service quality and can push customers to switch networks even when the root cause lies outside an operator’s direct control.
Odafi noted that Nigeria’s tough operating environment can undermine even heavy investment in infrastructure. Persistent outages leave customers looking for more reliable options, accelerating the shift toward the two biggest players.
The latest numbers underline a longer-term trend: MTN and Airtel are pulling further ahead on the internet side of the market while Glo struggles to hold its position and T2’s true standing remains temporarily obscured by incomplete reporting.